Prong-making machine



March 15, 1932. D. D. MYERS PRoNG MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. lul, 1929 l1 Sheets-Sheet v1 D. D. MYERS 1,850,029

PRONG MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. l1, 1929 1l Sheets-Sheet `2 March l5, 1932.

March 15, 1932. D. D. MYERS PRONG MAKING MACHINE Filed Septv. 11, 1929 l1 Sheets-Sheet 3.

l fr0/Mfrs March l5, 1932. D. D. MYI-:Rs 1,850,029

PRONG MAKING MACHINE I F11ed sept. 11, 1929 11 sheets-sheet 4 1 N\ .Y Jl www Q M Q|`- U/ NQ\ \\|l T. /wlhl llf. 1 N N 5 V111 .$3 y u a S v 1111111. m @UNS om T Q\\ .1.3 mi l-.. Y B .I J` `l.l M PQ w@ vmMMT d# v3 .W MQ b2 Y 5 m In" h,m\ Q. n VN\ Mw 1 .M hv ..1 s2 11.111 llmlmJ March 15, 1932v D. D. MYERS 1,850,029

PRNG MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. Il1, 1929 11 sheetsheet 5 /mfE/v rale Tran/vars lT/YEE'S @www March 15, 1932. D, D, MYERS '1,850,029

PRONG MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Wir/v5.5.5

March l5, 1932. D D, MYERS 1,850,029

PRONG lMAKNG MACHINE y l Filed Sepf,Y ll, 29 .l1 Sheets-sheet 7 I /74 7 ,73 98u 294 Il ,F-

i *ELL n: lf: 9a" 3, l ,In A /73 95 I? 90 f 97 f /9/ n 99 33' j /04 f90 f /98 WH wm 9, sa /09 March 15, 1932. D D MYElIQS PRONG MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. ll, 1929 11 Sheets-.Sheet 8 8 9 l n MJ 9 3 un nl l d 4 \l\ March 15, 1932. D, D MYERS PRoNG MAKING MACHINE Filed sept.. 11, 1929 V 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 f E m M m m 4, E E n y H H a n m UTM WIT/V555' March 15, 1932. D. D. MYERS 1,850,029

PRONG MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. l1, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet lO E Zf,

. m l Il Q /NvE/Yrme' I Br i I rrae/frs Vir/(555 March l5, 1932. D. D. MYERS 1,850,029 PRONG MAKING MACHINE l Filed sept. 11, 1929 11 Sheets-sheet 11 //r rE/v ral? Mwe-ss I 5y /yl-Czya' l 1 T10/faz16715'` Patented Mar. 15', 1932 rois @N D. HLYEPLS, F TOLEDO, GHO, ASSIGNOR TO HALL @c MCCHESNEY, INC., 03.? SYRA(T'S,

HE'MV YGRK, A CORPORATION `0F NEW YORK f PRONG-MAKING MACHINE Application filed' September 11, 1929, Serial No.7391,845.

ri'his invention relates to a new and improved machine for the manufacture of arc` uate prongs or posts to be used in loose leaf binders to retain the sheets therein. The main object of this invention is Ato construct a mechanism which will automatically form and properly `machine prongs or posts from suitable stock and which will be adapted to be secured in -a loose leaf binder for the purpose of supporting and retaining loose sheets therein. i

In other words I have sought to construct a device which will successively Aform a straight piece of wire stock into a prong of l5 the desired size and shape for a loose leaf binder and which in this instance is semicircular, to simultaneously cut the semi-circular portion from the remainder of the stock and mill a notch in one face thereof a short distance from the end being formed; to form a tongue between the -notch and adjacent end of the semi-circular ring by simultaneously cutting away a portion of the upper and lower side surfaces of said rinG' to cut'the o posite end of the semi-circular ring so as to when assembled within the binder to register' one within the other; and finally to eject the completed prong from the device.

@ther objects and uses relating to the details of the structure and the form and/rela.- tion of the parts thereof will be brought out more fully in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying-drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a. top plan of a machine for producing arcuate prongs for loose leaf binders. i.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken in the plane of the vline 2 2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontalsection taken on the line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the line 4 4, Figure 2. y

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged transverse vertical sectional views taken in the planes of the lines 5 5, 6 6 and 7 7 respectively, Figure 1. Y

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the vwire stocli holdingclamp taken on the line 8 8, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is 'aj horizontalsection taken on` ing device on lines 13 13 and 1,4 14 respeetively7 Figure 1.

Figure 15 is a detail vertical section taken on line 15 15, Figure 4. j r Figure 16 is a detail horizontalA section taken on line 16 16, Figure 5.

Figure 17 is a perspective View of the wire l kia.

stock after being formed into the j semi# circular ring. Y K Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating the ring severed from the wire stock and with the notch in the surface thereof.

vFigure 19 is a perspective view of the ring with the tongue formed between the notch and the adjacent end thereof. j

Figure 20 is a perspective view vof the completed prong as it is ejected from the machine with the male end formed thereon. Figure 21 is a perspective view of a completed prong having a female end formed thereon. p

In carrying outthe objects stateday work supporting head 1 is secured to a hollow vertically disposed spindle 2 which is rotatably mounted in a reciprocating Acarriage 3 near the forward end thereof Figures 1 and 2. The carriage 3 is disposedhorizonv tally and substantially central of. the main supporting frame 4 of the machine Aand adapted to move longitudinally thereon. Said carriage is slidably mounted in suitable spaced guide ways 5 formed on the upper surface of the frame 4. j

A portion of the upper surface of the frame 4 between the guide ways 5 is left open to form a longitudinal slot as 6 thru which various mechanical members secured'to and thereby moved by the carriage 3 may extend downwardly to a co-operating position with their respective actuating camswhich may be secured to or made integral with a camA tobe engaged in a cam groove 12 formed on e the periphery of the cam wheel 7.

The cam shaft 8 isy rotated'by asha-ft 13 through'the medium of a gear 14 secured to the rearend of the shaft 8 and meshing withV a worm secured to the horizontally disposed shaft 13.V TheY shaft 13 is journaled in suitable bearings as 16 and 17 secured-to the adjacent portion of the frame 4 and extends transversely to the machine in a plane-below the camshaft 8 outwardly beyond one of the side walls of the frame 4 and has a pulley as 18 secured to the outer end thereof, Figure 3.'V Y The shaft 13 may be driven in any suitable manner as by the horizontal drive shaft 20 byl means-of a belt 21 which passes around thepulley 18 and a companion pulley -22 secured to the sha-ft -20-.

The drive-'shaft -20- is provided to drive the various un-its of the apparatus, such as the millers and cutters, as well as the cam- 4 wheel,.and is rotatably mounted inl roller bearings 23- positioned in suitable supportingebrackets -24- and -25- secured in spacedy relation to the forward end portion of the frame -v4 f A pulley as -26- is secured to one end "of the shaft 20- for rotating said shaft.

V--31- whichis rectangular in plan view,

and is provided with a substantially semicircular recess -32- in the upper surface adjacent the outer end thereof.

Th'efrecess 32 is constructed with a radius substantially lequal -to the radius of the outer edge Vof the prong ring comprising the work i so that the ring when positioned in said recess willbe firmly supported therein by the vertical wall ofthe recess while the depth of the recess 32 is less than the vertical diameter of the work stock so that said work may be securely held in its proper position within the recess by a tempered work clamp member 34 which is secured by screws 35 to a clamp supporting arm 36 and is positioned in a plane above the work retaining prong and adapted'to be moved by the action of the arm 36 to and from the prong member 31for clamping or releasing the work positioned therein. Y l

These clamping and 4releasing Ymovements of the work clamp 34 are automaticallyeflected at pre-determined positions and in synchronism with other units of the apparatus inV the following manner: rlhe work clamp arms 36 provided for each of the clamps 34 are normally positioned 'in a substantially vertical plane over each of the radial arms 29 and secured at their lower ends to a shaft 37 which is ournaled at its ends in the adjacent portion of the work head 1. The arms 33 are formed with an outwardly progeggtingV of toggle pin 39which is positioned in a slot 2 40 provided in respective plungers 41.

The plungers 41 are slidably mounted in respective bores 42 arranged in the four opposite sides of the body portion28 ofthe head 1 in co-operative alineinent with he respective arms 36. Each of the bores 42 extends from the upper face of the body 23 to within a short distance of the lower end thereof. A helical spring `43fispositioned within each of the bores 42-between the lower 'end thereof and the respective plunger 41. A guide pin 44 is secured in the plunger 41 near the lowerend thereofand extends outwardly therefrom and has its outer end adapted to register in respective slots 45 provided in the body portion 28. Said pins serve to hold the slot 40 in alignment with respective arms 36.V The plungers 41 are eachconstructed with their upper ends reduced toform an upwardly projecting pin member l41', adapted to extend through suitable apertures 46"provided in a plunger retaining plate 46 which is secured to the up per end ofthe work supporting head 1 by screws 4G". adapted to permit the reduced portions 41 of respective plungers 41 to freely move therethrough and at the same time said plate will limit the upward movement Vof the plungers 41 by the upper surface of said plungers formed by the reduced portion 41 coming incontact with the lower surface of the plate 46.

It may now be understood that with the pins 39 infsubstantially the horizontal posi-V The apertures 46 in the plate 46 are tion in respective slots 40 and with the outer end thereof in registration withrecessed end of respective screw members 36 and of thev proper length to m ve the upper end of the arm 36 outwardA sufficiently to bring the clamp 34 into clamping engagement th the work by moving the plunger 4l downwardly the pin 39 will be withdrawn fromits respective screw member 38 .and permit the upper endrof the arm 36 to move' inwardly and thereby cause the clamping member r34 torelease the work7 and` it is evident that the work will again beclamped in the block 3l by the upward movementof the plungers 41 which will cause the pin 39 4to again assume the horizontal position. rllhe pins 39 and respective screw: members 38 are maintained in contact at all times by means of retracting springs 47 having their ends secured to adjacent upwardly proj ectingpins 48 secured in the upper end of respective arms 36.

The downward movement of the plungers 4l for releasing the work beaoc'omplished at pre-determined positions by means of cam members 49 or 49 positioned in spaced relation on the inner surface of the peripheral rim of the cam wheel 7 at the forward edge thereof, acting upon a substantially horizontally disposed rock arm 50`to move it downwardly. rlhe rock arm 50 is pivoted at its outer end to a'shaft 51 secured in the lower end of a bracket 52 connected with the under surface of the forward end of the carriage 3. The inner end of the rock arm 50 is provided with a roller 50 adapted to engag the face of the cam 49. An aperture 53 is providedin the rock arm 50, substantiallyV rectangular in plan viewand disposed invertical alinement with the axis `of the hollow spindle 2.

A vertically disposed plunger rod 54 is slidably mounted within the spindle 2 with the lower end lthereof passing through the aperture 53 in the rock arm 50. An enlarged annular flange 55 is provided on the lower end of the plunger rod 54 adapted to prevent the plunger rod from moving 'upwardly through the aperture 53. A 4plunger operating plate 56 is secured to the upper end of the plunger rod 54 and positioned normally a short dista-nce above the work supporting head l. The plate 56 is substantially triangular in plan view and adapted in this instance to have the outer edge thereof in registration with `two of the plunger members 4l at a time. The plunger rod 54 and plate 56 are prevented from rotating by means of a squared portion 54 provided at the lower end of the plunger rod 54 registering in the rectangular slot 53 provided in the arm 50.

The spindle 2 together with the 4work supporting head l and the co-operating parts therewith are rotated by meansv of an ind-ex ing plate 57 secured to the lower end of the spindle 2 in a horizontal plane above the cam wheel "7. The plate 57 is substantially square vin plan view and is provided with a plurality of in this instance 4 outwardly extending arms 58 formed by an equal number of inwardly extending slots 58 provided one at each corner of the plate 57said slots being adapted to receive 'an actuating roller 59 therein. on` a pin 60 secured'to the periphery of the cam wheel '7 so that on each revolution of the cam wheel?? the roller 59 will register in one of the slots 58 engage the adjacent arm 58 and rotate the plate 57 and thereby the spindle 2 and head1 one quarter of a revolution.

The work supporting head l may be temporarily locked at each of the predetermined indexed positions against rotation by means of a lock bar 62 and a latch bar 63 each of which is disposed in a horizontal plane and in spacedrelation below thearms 29 of said head member, and a positioning key 64 one for each of the indexed positions. One of said keys is secured tothe `under surface of the arms 29 by screws `65-and positioned inthe horizontal plane of the lock'bar 62 with the outer end of said key position-ed between said lock bar and latch member 63 when in the locking position, see Figures 2, 4 and ll. lThe lock bar 62 and latch 63 are slidably mounted in respective grooves 66 and 67 provided Vin the upper-surface of the lock supporting bracket 68 `which is secured tothe upper surface of the 'carriage 3 by screws 69 atlthe rear of the work supporting head ll.V Y v rlhe roller 59 is rotatably mounted `A cover `plate 70 is securedby screwsi'l to` ther upper surface of the bracket 68 for maintaining the bars 62 and 63 in theirfrespective grooves. Said cover plate is provided at one end with a downwardly projecting flange 72 adapted to be positioned across the rear end ofthe bracket 68 to close the adjacent ends of the grooves 66 and 67. The lock bar 62 and latch V63 are yieldingly held in their forward operative position by respective helical springs Z3 positioned-within the grooves `66 and 67 between the rear ends of the respective bars 62 and 63 and the end ilange 72 of the cover plate 70. The latch bar 63 is provided atits rear end with a lateral lu@ as 74 extendinfy from the inner side thereof into a slot 75 provided in the upper surface of the bracket 68 adjacent the groove 67 for the purpose of limiting the forward movement of said'latch bar.

The lock bar 62 is maintained in its for-V is positioned in an aperture 79V provided inv therlock bar 62. near the rear end 'thereof .carriage operating bearing member 11 with the lower end thereof terminating in close relation with the periphery of the cam wheel 7 A roller 82 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of the plunger 81 and adapted to cooperate with the plunger actuating ca1n83 secured to or integral with said cam wheel fory moving the lock bar 62 inwardly against the action of its respective -spring 7 3 out'of the path of movement of the co-operating key member 64 thereby releasing the work .sup-

, porting head land permitting it to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction as indicated. by

the arrow X Figure 11.

' The plunger actuating cam 83 is so constructed that as soon as the respective key member 64 has passed beyond the path of movement of the lock bar 62 that the plunger 81 will be permitted to return toits lower normal position and the lock bar 62 again moved to its outward locking position by the action of its respective spring 73 so as to be in theV path ofmovement of the succeeding key member 64. As the key member 64 approaches the lock bar 62 it will engage the outer end of the latch bar 63 and move said latch inwardly against the action of its respective spring 63 thereby permitting said key member to come in contact with the lock barf62 whereupon the respective spring 7'3 will again move the latch 63 youtwardly to engagethe outer edge of said key memberr64 thereby securely holding or locking the work supporting' head 1 against further rotating movement until the plunger 81 is again actuated by the cam 83.

' The upper end of the plunger 81 isalso provided with a lateral arm -85- which extends horizontally therefrom through a suitable slot v--86--providedin the wall of the bracket -68-- and terminates a short distance Afrom and on that side of the bracket 68e at which the work is fed into the machine. The arm'85- is adapted to cooperate with an adjusting screw -87- which y is screw threaded in the outer end ofv a forwardly projecting arm 88- of a rock arm -88-, Figures 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The rock arm 88 is pivotally mounted on a stud -89- which is secured to the inner Vface of a work feed slide -90- midway beprovided with an adjusting screw -91-v screw threaded in the outer end thereofand adapted to be engaged by a laterall arm -93v-- The rock arm actuating plunger -93-- is mounted in a vertical position 1n the carriage 3 at the rear of the lock v,bar supporting bracket -68 and adapted for lengthwise movement therein. The lateral arm -92- is secured to the upper end of the plunger 9S- and extends horizontally' across the upper face of the carriage 3 in the same direction as thet arm -85- of the plunger member -83- with its outer end positioned between a pair of upwardly extending lugs -94-. integral with the upper surface of the carriage 3 for maintaining the plunger -93- in its normal operative position. The lower end of the plunger -9,3k extends below the carriage 3 and terminates in proximity to the upper surface of the cam wheel 7. A- roller 95+- is rotatably mounted on the lower end of the plunger 93+ and is adapted to co-operate with a cam member -96- secured to or integral with the cam wheel 7 for moving the plunger upwardly to rock the larm -88- in a direction opposite to that it is moved when actuated by the plunger -83-. v A pair of slightly spaced horizontally disposed work clamping jaws 98 and 99 are positioned one above the other in a plane above the rock arm 88 and are heldin the normal position against the inner face of the work feed slide 90 by. means of a retaining plate 100 positioned in a plane above said jaws to determine their upward position and having a downwardly projecting member y100 ad-V jacent the inner side surfaces of the jaws to maintain said jaws against lateral move* ment. The retaining plate 100 is adjustably clamped to the inner face of the slide 90 near the upper end thereof by means of a screw 101 which passes through a vertically elongated slot 101 provided near the upper edge and midway between the ends of said retain ing plate and screw threaded into the adjacent portion of slide 90. Y The retaining plate 100 is maintained in a vertical position by means of a vertically disposed adjusting screw 102 screw threaded in an inwardly projecting lug 103 which is provided in the upper surface of a slide 90 and which extends inwardly over the upperface of the retaining plate 100.

The aws 98 and 99 have their adjacent inner surfacesr provided with'grooves 98 and 99 respectively extending longitudinally therethrough and adapted to receive the work therein. The lower j aw 99 is supported by a toggle link 104 which is vertically disposed between said jaw and the rock arm 88 with the lower end of the link pivotally mounted on a pin 105 which is secured to the rock arm 88 in the vertical plane of the stud 89 Awhile the upper end of the link 104 registers in a circular recess 106 provided in the klower edge of the jaw 99 midway between the ends 99 are each provided with outwardly exf- Vtending lugs 98 and -99"- respectively adapted to engage respective outer vertical sides of the slide -90- to prevent the longitudinal movement or displacement of the jaw members 98 and -99-.

The work feed slide 90 is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon a supporting bracket -107 secured to the upper surface of the frame -A- by means of screws -108-. The rearward movement of the work feed slide -90- may be limited by an adjusting screw -1()9- which is screw threaded in an inwardly extending lug -110- provided on the rear face of the. bracket -107- and extends inwardly across the path of movement of the slide member -00-. The screw -109-- may be locked in a pre-determined position by means of a lock nut -111-. The slide -90- is yieldingly held in its forward position against a stop plate -112- secured to theyv front face of the bracket -107- by screws 113- and positioned across the outer open end of a longitudinal bore 114- which extends from the forward face of the bracket 107- rearwardly7 by means of a helical spring 115- positioned in the bore -114- betweenthe rear end thereof and the rear face of a lug 117- integral with or secured to theslide 90-. 'y

The bore 114iin this instance is positioned in the bracket -107- in a horizontal plane which is intermediate the upper and lower edges of the slide 90- and near the inner face of said bracket. A portion of the inner face of the bracket -107- adjacent the bore is slotted to form an opening 118- which extends from theforward end of'the said bore rearwardly a portion of the length of the bore. The lug H117* may as shown be provided with a threadedstud-119- and nut 120- for securing it tothe slide -90-- The lug -117'- is secured to the forward end of the slide 90e and adapted to extend latterly therefrom through the opening -118 into the bore -114f so that said lug is adapted to limit the forward movement of the slide -90-- by the front face thereof coming in contact with the stop member 112- while the amount of the rearward movement of the slide -90-- is controlled a pre-determined amount by the adjusting screw -109-- The rearward movement of the slide *90- against the action of the spring -115- is effected when the jaws 98- and -99- are brought into gripping engagement with the work through the action of the rock arm 88 and toggle link 104 whereby the work is forced through a pair of prong forming dies 122e and -123- by the rearward movement of the carriage 3 to which said dies are secured.

The dies -122 and 21B- are mounted in a die supporting block 42% which is secured by means ofscrews --125- tothe upper face of the upwardly extending bracket 126- integral with the upper'facev of the carriage 3 and positioned at onveside thereof ahead of the work feed siidef-90-. The block w424,-- is provided with a longitudinal slot -127 in the upper face thereof adapted to receive the die *122- therein 1 while the die n123- which in this instance is a tempered pin is secured in the forward portion of the block-12iadjacent the inner face of the-slot 127% l i *Y The die -122 is positioned longitudinally in the slot 4127- and has the inner face thereof provided with a groove -122" adapted to receive the work therethroughand positioned in co-operative alinementwith the grooves 98 and 99 in respective jaw members 9S and -99-. The die -122-is adjustably clamped in thel slot --127- by means of ascrew--129- screw threaded through the outer portion of the "block 124.- while said diemember may be adjustably positioned relative to the die-123- by means 'of a screw 130- also screw threaded through -said blockV -12dk near the forward end thereof. The forward outer end of the groove -122- is formed to curve inwardly to co-operate with a companion annular groove -123-- formed in the die 423- in co-operative alinement with the groove .-122- to bend the stock as it is forced forward between said dies into a ring of the desired size to form an arcuate prong adapted to be used inja loose leaf binder. The dies -122- and -123- are positioned in co-operative alinement with the recess Q32- provided in the workretaining block -81- which is positioned 'adj acent said dies so that as the stock is forced through the dies to formV the ring said ring will be positioned within recess -32.-- below the respective work clamp -34- as indicated in dotted line, Figure l. A spring member-llis secured to the innerfaceof the die supporting block 124- by screws 132- and has its forward end positioned'in spaced relation to the inner face of said block and in the lpath of the end of the work as it is formed into the ring so that said spring will be displaced by the ring and will act to readjust the ring in the work retaining block after it has been cut from the remaining portion of the work stock which will hereinafter be more `fully explained. Y i

The apparatus may as shown be provided with a pair of stock straightening devices 134- and -135- positioned in the rear of the work feed slide -90 and secured tothe Y y i of, Figures 1, 13, and 14; One'ofthe stock withthe rear end of the carriage 3 while the other device as --135 is secured in a horizontal position to the upper face of the vcarriage?) ahead of the straighteners--134- Each of the devices are composed of a plurality of in this instance 3 groovedrollers rr-l-rjournaled in longitudinal spaced relation upon suitable studs 13S-fsecured to respective supporting brackets -139- tiveorollers 137- by means of a screw v-Qllwhich is screw-threaded in a laterally x Yextending portion 145- formed at one end of each bracket e139-, while each of the brackets 143- are clamped in their adjusted' position to their respective retaining bracket -139- by means of a screw 146- which passes through an elongated slot i 147- provided in each bracket "143+- and screw-threaded in the corresponding bracket -139--- Y vAt the forward end of the frame 4 is positioned a plurality of tool support-ing spindles 148-- positioned in co-operative relation with respective work supporting blocks -31- secured in the 3 forwardly positioned arms -29- of the work supporting'head 1,

Figures 1, 2, v4l, 55 and l5. The spindles 148 are arrangedl in 3 groups and positioned in respect to the work supporting head 1 so that the tools carried by said spindles in each group will performits required operation upon the work located in the respective blocks 3l-f at substantially the same time, as said head with the work, therein is moved forwardly by the carriage 3 to bring the work into operating engagement with respective tools. The spindles 148- are each rotatably mounted in suitable spaced rolling bean ings +149- secured in respective ends of the spindle supporting housings 15G-f."

Each of the spindle supporting housings e150- are adjustably mounted upon a housing supporting slide -151-, and is adapted to be adjusted thereon in a direction trans- V verse to the adjusting movement of the re- Vspective slide. The housings 15G- are clamped to their respective slides -151- by means of screws or bolts -152- passing through elongated slots -153- formed in thehousing on opposite sides of therrespective spindles 148- and screw threaded in 'said slide, while each of the slides -151- isadjustablymounted upon respective brackets and maybe secured thereto in their adjusted position by means of a pair of screws 154- screw threaded in the respective slide -151- which in turn is slidably mounted for longi- Y tudinal movement relative to the Yframe 4 upon the upper end of a vertically disposed upwardlyprojecting bracket 156- inte# gral with the upper portion of the frame l, positioned at the right side of and near the forward end of said frame. The spindle 148+ may he driven from the drive shaft -20- by means of .a -belt -157- which passes around a pulley "158- secured to the outer ends of the spindle 1&8* and another pulley 159 secured to the outer end of the drive shaft 20 The inner end of `the spindle -1l8- is provided with a tool supporting `head -160- adapted to support suitable tool or tools for doing the work required which in this instance consists of a cutter as A and a slot milling toolB clamped in spaced relation upon said head by a clamping nut -161- screw threaded on the outer end of the head -160-. .The cutting tool A in this instance is of slightly larger diameter than the ycutting tool B so that while the cutter A is `cutting the semi-circular prong ring from the stock the miller B will b e forming the slot -zt- Figure 18 in said ring. Y Y

On the left side of the machine is positioned a pair of horizontally disposed tool supporting spindles 148 arranged in spaced relation in the sameverticalrplane one above the other. The spindles are positioned short distance in advance of the stock cutting spindle just described so that the tools mounted on the inner endthereof will be in co-operative alinement with the work carriedV inthe forwardly extending longitudinally disposed arm 29 and positioned relative to the cutting spindle so that they will engage the work at the same time that the tools on the cutting spindle are doing their work. These spindles aremounted similarly to the spindle on the right side'of the machine with the respectiver housing supportingslides 151 "adjustably mountedA for vertical movement on an upwardly extending vertically disposedbracket 162 secured to the jacent peripheral edges spaced apart suficiently to form the tongue as 7J- Figure 19 as they cut away a portion of the outer surface of the semi-circular ring, between the notch -aand adjacent end thereof. The width of the tongue may be varied by the vertical adjustment of the respective slides 151- upon the supporting bracket M162- while the spindle maybe adjusted latterly to bring the tools mounted thereon into proper alineinent with the work to determine the depth of the cut in said work by adjusting the housing 1750- upon the respective slides -l5l-. The tongues -b-are adapted to register in suitable slots provided in the prong retaining plate so that the prongs may be secured to said plate by riveting or upsetting the under surface of the tongue. To each of the outer ends of said spindles 148- is secured a pulley as l 6?- and -164- `arranged in staggered relation and connected by belts 165- and 1664- to respective pulleys 167- and --168-- mounted on the drive shaft -20- for rotating said spindles and the tools mounted thereon.

The vertically disposed spindle 140- positioned at the left of the work supporting head l. has its housing slide -lln adjustably mounted on a supporting bracket -l69 adjustably clamped to the frame 4 for latteral adjustment of the spindle and tools thereon to bring said tool into proper reation withv the work which is carried by the arm 29- extending transversely and to the left of the work supporting head l so as to cut a V shaped tongue as -c-, or groove --Z, depending upon the tool used, Figures 2O and 2l in the remaining or unfinished end of the ring carried by said arm. The tongue -c and groove -cZ- are to be cut' with a sulicient depth so that when assembled in a loose leaf binder and with said ends interlocled a smooth and even joint will be formed to permit the ready and uninterrupted transfer of the sheets from one prong tothe other.

he vertical adjustment of the spindle `to bring the tool into horizontal alinement with the work may be accomplished by adjusting the housing relative to the slide in the same manner as previously explained for the cut oft1 and notch forming spindle. The tongue and groove forming spindle -l48 and tool mounted thereon may be rotated by the shaft -20- by meansv of an endless belt 170- which passes around a pulley 171- sewardly extending post --l74-'," Figures 1,' 2, 4, 6 and 7. The pivotal post -l74- rests upon the upper surface of the frame 4 and is clamped thereto by means of a nut 175'- positioned on the lower side of said frame and screw threaded on a reduced lower endl of the post N4- which extends through a suitable opening in said frame. The post -l74-`- extends some distance above the frame 4 and has the uppper portion thereof reduced to form a pivotal support -l74efor the'arm -173-- The outer end of the arm 173- is constructed with a downwardly projecting tubular boss -l- `which rests upon. the .shoulder formed on the post by the reduced portion -1744-1 The arm -173- normally extends inwardly from` the upper end of the boss 17 3- over the' loclr supporting bracket Sf and has secured to the inner end thereof a linger supporting block 175- which is clamped to the under side of -said arm inV cooperative alinement with the rearwardly extending longitudinal arm -29 of thework supporting head l by means of a screw 17 6-, Figures 4, Gand 7.

The block *175% is substantially rectan-v gular in plan viewand has a spring linger as soV -178- secured to the inner end thereof and n projects forwardly beyond the forward surface of the blocl -175- a sufficient distance so as to grip the adjacent end of the work as said work is brought in proximity to the forward face of the block 175- bythe rearward movement ofthe head l and carriage 3. A co-operating finger -l79- is pivotally mounted at -180*'to the opposite or outer end of the block -175- and is held in its normal position for gripping the opposite end of the work by means of a spring 181- positioned in a recess 182- provided in the block -l75- at the rear of the pivot -l80-. Theouter end of the spring 181- is positioned in a' recess 18S- provid-ed in the adjacent inner side of the finger -179-- The arm 173% is yieldingly held in its normal forward position by means of a retracting spring -184- Vwhich is coiled around the upper end ofthe post -1Z4- `with the upper endof the spring turned outwardly at right `angles to said spring and p positioned in a hole 185eprovided in the lower `face of a collar 18S- which yis clamped by a screw 187.- to the upper end j' of the post -vl74-.

The lowerfend of the spring .-484- is bent to form an annular opening throughwhich a. pin -188- secured to the upper adjacent portion ofthe arm 173;- may pass. The normal forward position of they varm 173+ is adjustably determined by ascrew -190- screw threaded in an outwardly and downwardly extending lug '-191- formedV at theV lower end of the boss --173-v with-the inner end of the screw abutted against a shoulder 192- formed in a groove -193-- l roller 194i rotatably mounted on the upper end ofranupwardlyextending arm 195 l The arm l95 is provided at its lower end with a split collar 195 positioned at right angles thereto, said collar is mounted upon the post 174 and is adapted to be clamped thereto by a screw 196 a short distance below the arm 173 so that with the roller- 194 in the path of movement of the finger 179 the rearwardly7 extending end of4 said finger will be moved inwardly against the action of the spring 181 when the finger comes in contact with the roller 194 thereby moving the forward end of the finger outwardly to release the work.

f The arm 173 is rocked rearwardly to bring the finger 179- into contact with the 'roller; 194 by means of a roller 197- rotatably mounted on anV upwardly extending stud 198- secured to the outer end of a horizontally disposed arm 199 The arm 199 is positioned in a transverse groove provided in the upper surface of the cover plate near the forward'end thereof and secured to said plate by screws 200 The arm 199 extends outwardly a short distance beyond the outer edge of the plate 70 with the roller' 197 positioned in a plane intermediate said plate and the post 171 and in the horizontal plane of the arm 17 3 so that as the arm 199 is carried rearwardly by the movement of the carriage 3, the roller 197 will come in contact with the ejector arm 173 and rock said arm rearwardly against the action of the spring 184 about the pivotal post 171 until the finger 17 9 engages the ejector roller 194 to actuate said finger, to release the work at the time the carriage 3 completes its rearward movement.' The carriage will now being the Jforward movement carrying the arm l99 and roller 197 forward away from the arm v 173 which will now be returned to its normal position ready to receive the next completed prong by the action of the spring 18a- Operation The stock wire as M is first fed intothe machine between the straightening rollers l37 and` 1l1 from any suitable source such as a reel not shown. From .the straight ening rollers the wire isrpassed between the clamping aws 98 and 99 to the ring forming dies 122- and 123 .with the forward end curved to conform to thercurve in the forward end ofthe diei 122 and terminates in the longitudinal plane of the cutting tool A, Figures 1 and 2.

rlhe machine is illustrated in the drawings with the work supporting head 1 ust having completed the indexing operation and with the table 3 about tomove rearwardly. The work clamp 3- positioned in the arm 29 extending longitudinally rearwardly and also in the arm adjacent the dies are in the open or unclamping position, due to the action of the cam 49- upon the arm 50 rod 54 and plate 56 The rock arm 88 has been moved by the arm 85 to bring the aws 98 and 99- into clamping engagementwith the wire stock. Now by referring to Figures 2 and -3 it isfclear that with the cam wheel 7 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow X that the carriage 3 will be moved rearwardly and therefore the work supporting head 1 and the prong forming .dies 122 .and 123- mounted thereon will also be moved rearwardly. Y

This rearward movement of the dies will move the clamping jaws 98- and 99 and the feed slide 90 rearwardly through the' medium of the stock wire, against the action of the retracting spring 115 Figure 9 until said slide member comes in contact with the screw member 109- when the rearward movement of the jaws andthe wire grip thereby will be discontinued and the wireV will then be forced through the dies and into the recess 32 of the adjacent work retaining block 31 as the dies continue the rearward movement. The screw 109 is adjusted relative to the slide 90 so that as said slide is brought to rest by the scr-ew av suiiicient amount of wire stock will beffed through the dies to form the proper sized ring to form the prong as indicated in Figure 17.

As the carriage 3 reaches its extreme rearward position by the substantially quarter revolution of the cam wheel 7 the rock arm 88 will be moved to release the gripping engagement of the jaws 98- and 9o9 The work clamp 34; positioned tion is permitted by the cam -49- having Y passed beyond the 'roller 52 thereby releasing the arm 50 plunger rod 54 andthe plunger operating plate 56 and thereby permitting their upward movement, Y

which action is caused by the spring A3- acting upon the respective plunger -41, Figures 5 and 6.

As the carriage 3 is moved forward by the continued rotation of the cam wheel 7 the stock wire M with the ring connected therewith nil which is clamped in the work supporting l will bedrawn forwardly between the wire straightening roll-ers -137- and wiel-- and the clamping jaws 9S- and 9S- so as to'be in position to again be fed through the ring forming dies 122- and --123- upon the return movement of the carriage. As the carriage together with the work supporting head l approaches the limit of its fcrward stroke the work will be brought into Contact with the cutting and milling tools as A and B which will cut a portion of tie ring formed from the remainder of the stock as indicated in Figure 18 and also the slot a. The depth of the slot -adepends upon the relative positiens of the tool B and the end of the forward stroke of the carriage andl therefore the work supporting head.

As previously explained as the ring is being formed the head end thereof will be brought into Contact with and will compress to a certain degree the spring member -131- so that before the carriage 3- begins its rearward movement and upon the completion of the cutting worlr of the tool members A and B the respective work clamp ?A* will be caused to release the worlr for a moment by the J cam -49- coming into contact with the roller -52- and thereby actuating` the plunger rod -54- and plate -52- to force the respective plunger 41- downwardly. rthis momentary releasing of work permits the spring 131- to rotate said work to bring the cut end of the ring against the adjacent side surface of the cutter A. rl`his surface being always in a given position relative to the work holders will uniformly position the werk in the` respective holder each time a ring segment is formed so as to insure a uniform construction of the prongs.

he carriage 3 then moves rearwardly unil the roller bearing member -11- enters the straight portion of the cam groove -l2-,-

ligure 8 at which time said table will discontinue its rearward movement for a short period. The roller -82- provided on the plunger n8l-- will have been brought by the movement of the carriage into co-operative alinement with the cam 8S- and will be acted upon by said cam to move'the plunger 8l upward. This upward movement if the plunger -Slwill move the leek bar -62- rearwardly through the medium of the bell crank lever --77- out ofthe path of movement of the positioning key 64- which is secured to the arm -29* extendl ing rearwardly thereby permitting the work supporting head l to be rotatedin an 1 anticlockwise direction. The cam -83` is so.

Constructed that the plunger '-81- will be held in. its upward position during a greater portion of the timethe carriage 3 remains stationary so that the lock bar -62- will remain in its rearward position a sufficient time to permit the indexing of the work supporting head 1 and is returned tothe normal locking position just before the completion of the indexing of the head so as to be inthe The indexing of the head 1 to movethe arms -29- one .quarter of a revolutionv to bring said'arms to the next succeedingv posi'- tion is accomplished by the roller -59- coming in-contact with an armtS-.of thel indexingV plate 5I-A which actio-npwll cause the arm 29 with the ring segment therein to move into the forward extending longitudinally disposed position and the arm -29` which was in the rearward position and which contained an empty work retaining block 3l will have been moved into co-operative registration with the ring forming dies. At the completion of the indexing operation the cam 49econtacts withV the roller 505- to rock the arm -O-downwardly thereby forcing the rod --54'-, plate 56- and the two plungers -4Llin contact with the plate downwardly against the action of the respective springs A3-to permit the respective clamping members 34- to be moved to the open position by the respective springs -47- acting upon the upper ends of the respective arms -36.

The machine is now in the position illustrated in the drawings and the carriage will now continue the rearward trave-l as hereinl/efore explainedforming a ring in the work;

operating Contact with the tongue milling cutters as -G- and the tongue -bwill then be formed as illustrated in Figure 191 Vafter which the carriage again begins its rearward travel the work siuoporting head l is again rotated one quarter of a revolution to bring the first formed ring segment to the next position which is in co-operative aline- QOl ment with the tongue or groove milling cut-v ter -D- so `that upon the carriage again. moving to the forward position the tongue -cor groove -clwill be cut in the opposite end of the'ring segmentto thatin which the tongue -bis formed depending upon the tool used as illustrated in Figures 1,11; 

